From: John C. [ryutsurugi@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2001 19:08
To: cognjo@midsouth.rr.com
Subject: Ranma: The Tenth Hakkeshu Chapter 22

Ranma:  The Tenth Hakkeshu or Ranmas Cousin Iori

(------)

Disclaimer:  I do not own Ranma =.  That is property
of Rumiko Takahashi.  I do not own The King of
Fighters, that is property of SNK.  I do however
suggest you look up information on these two
properties.  You wont be disappointed.

(------)

Note:  This takes place well after the Ranma = manga
and during the King of Fighters 98.

(------)

Ranma the Tenth Hakkeshu Chapter 22:  A Secret of the
Tendos

It is very early in the morning at the Tendo Dojo. 
The sun isnt even up, and the crescent moon seems to
swim in the night sky among all the stars.  Kasumi
gets up, but not to do her chores as she usually does.
 She heads out to the dojo.  She goes to the farthest
right hand corner of the room.  She knocks on the
floorboards with the back of her palm.  Once she hears
one of the floorboards make a semi-loud creek, she
knows it is the one.  She places her hands by the
sides of the floorboard and pulls it up.  She than
sticks her hands into the darkness that is underneath
the floor, and feels around in it.  She finally
touches what shes looking for, and gives a sigh of
relief as she pulls it out of its dark hiding place. 
It is a long, skinny chest.  It is very simplistic,
yet intricately detailed.  It is definitely a couple
of hundreds of years old.  It is made of polished
cherry tree wood, and is painted a dark forest green. 
There is a small amber gemstone in the center of lid,
which acts as a lock.  Kasumi holds the chest and
looks at it for a long time.  She puts the box to the
side and puts the floorboard back into place.  She
runs back into the house quickly, and quietly.  She
makes it to her room and locks the door behind her. 
She places the box on the bed and walks over and draws
her curtains on her window.  As she walks over to sit
on her bed, and hold the box, she thinks of what this
Leopold person told them last night as Nabiki came
back downstairs

---<BEGIN FLASHBACK>---

Kasumi sits in the same room staring at the man that
calls himself Leopold.  This mans presence sends
cold chills up her spine.  Kasumi does not like this
person at all.  Usually, she just shuts out these bad
thoughts of people, but for once, it feels as though
she should not let her guard down around this man. 
Nabiki finally comes back downstairs with a stack of
folders and photos.  She than places it all on the
table before Leopold.

Nabiki:  Hows this Mr.?

Leopold:  My name is Leopold.  Well, let me see.

Leopold grabs one of the photos on top of the stack of
information.  It is one of Ranma in his girl for
sleeping on her stomach and the strap of her shirt is
falling off.  Leopold lets off an appreciative
whistle.  This act disgusts Kasumi, and makes Nabiki
smile.  After all, to her, a satisfied customer is one
she can get A LOT of Yen out of.  Leopold than puts
the photo down.  He picks up Ranmas profile with his
left hand, and scratches his beard with his other as
he reads it.

Leopold (Reads out loud):  Name.  Ranma Saotome. 
Birthplace.  Japan.  Birth date.  July 5th, 1981. 
Hair.  Black when male, and red when female.  Eye
color.  Blue.  Height.  1.79 m (59) when male, and
1.69 m (55) when female.  Weight.  69 kg (150 lbs)
when male, and 59 kg (128 lbs) when female.  Blood
type.  A.  Hobbies.  Martial arts, training, and
eating.  Favorite food.  Okonomiyaki.  Favorite sport.
 All.  Most valuable.  Leona  Hm hm hm hm  Well now
 This IS of real interest indeed  

Kasumi stares at Nabiki.  She is furious with Nabiki. 
She cant believe Nabiki would write that into
Ranmas profile.  Now, his friend Leona may be in
trouble as well.  She wants to yell at her sister, but
after suppressing her bad feelings for so long, she
doesnt remember how to show anger anymore.  All she
can do is stare and seethe on the inside with anger.

Leopold (Puts down profile):  Well than.  I am certain
that this will be of use to me.  I thank you for your
service.  But I still need some help.

Nabiki (Folds her arms behind her back):  My services
arent

Leopold knows where shes going, and he drops another
wad of Yen onto the table.  Nabiki picks it up and
counts 20,000.  She than kneels by the table, and wait
for Leopold to continue.

Leopold:  Tell me this.  Have you ever heard of the
Sacred Treasures of the Shingi Trioca?

Nabiki (Nods her head):  Yes.  I know of that legend. 
Those were the three relics used by the three heroes
to slay the Demon Hydra-dragon about 1,800 years
ago.

Kasumi notices that this Leopold person winced when
Nabiki said Demon Hydra-dragon.  She wonders why
that is, but doesnt say anything.

Leopold:  Well, as I was saying before, I am looking
for locations.  But specifically, I am looking for the
locations of those three treasures.

Kasumi:  Treasures?  What do you want those treasures
for?

Leopold directs Kasumi a cold-hard glare, which
petrifies Kasumi into place.  Nabiki is about to say
something about this, but Leopold just holds up
another 10,000 Yen in his right hand, and Nabiki
gleefully snatches it.  Kasumi is than horrified by
the way her sister is acting.  She truly sees her
sister Nabiki for the mercenary she truly is.  Leopold
than breaks his gaze on her and turns to Nabiki.

Leopold:  Now, as I was about to say before I WAS SO
RUDELY INTERRUPTED!  (Kasumi tenses with this).  I
want these three treasures for my museums new
exhibit.

Nabiki (Raises her left eyebrow):  Museum?

Leopold:  Yes.  I am one of the heads at the
Guggenheim Museum of History in New York City, NY
State, U.S.A.

Nabiki (Interested):  Really?  Whats the exhibit?

Leopold:  We are adding a Legends of Feudal Japan
wing to our museum.  We want the three treasures as
the center pieces to this new exhibit.

Nabiki:  What are these treasures Im looking for
exactly?  And are you even sure they exist?  They are
just from a legend after all.

Leopold:  I know for a fact that they exist.  This is
because, I myself have seen one of them, but was not
able to get it.  The one I saw was the Yata Mirror. 
It is a mirror that can see past illusions, and into a
persons true self.  Than theres the Yasakani Beads. 
They protect the human soul from outside influences.
 Finally, there is the Kusanagi katana, which was used
to behead the Demon Hydra-dragon.  This sword is
full of spiritual energy.

Nabiki:  And what will I be paid if I find these items
for you?

Leopold:  If you can find where they are, I will pay
you 1,750,000 Yen, per location.  If you actually get
your hands on the items for me yourself  You can name
your price.

Nabiki hears this, and lets her emotionless mask
drop.  She literally jumps on the table and does a
little dance that could rival one of Genma and Soun
after they hear Ranma will marry Akane, laughing all
the while.  Kasumi is in utter shock by all this. 
Nabiki is showing more emotion than she has shown in
YEARS.  And, the fact this man wants these three
items.  Kasumi can tell that Leopold is obviously
lying to them.  But Nabiki doesnt care.  All she can
see at the moment is Yen, Dollar, Lira, Franc, and
Pound signs flashing before her eyes.  This is
definitely not good.  Especially if one of the things
he wants is

---<END FLASHBACK>---

Kasumis thoughts go back to the present.  She opens
up the box.  It is red velvet on the inside, and a
sheathed katana sits in its specially shaped groove. 
Kasumi pools out the sheathed katana and studies the
sides of it.  The sheath has six Sun Symbols of the
Kusanagi clan imprinted on both sides of it.  Kasumi
knows a secret about this symbol though.  She knows
that the symbol is actually an eclipsed sun.  That the
Dark circle in the center of the sun is actually the
moon.

Kasumi (Thinks):  The Sun and the Moon.  Kusanagi and
Yagami

Kasumi slightly unsheathes the katana.  The katana
still has the luster it did when she first hid the
katana, after her mother instructed her that no one
should know about it.  Kasumi looks at the area of the
katana connected to the hilt, and sees that the katana
has the same symbol as it does on the sheath.  Her
mothers sword IS the Kusanagi katana.

Kasumi (Thinks):  Why does that man want mothers
sword?  It does not belong to him, and it is
incredibly powerful.  I cant talk to Nabiki about
this.  Shell just give it to the man for money.  I
have to keep this safe.  But whom can I talk to?  If I
go to father, hell start waving it around, as if it
were his own, and Nabiki will get it.  Akane would
break it.  Happosai and Genma would just pawn it for
money.  Cologne would just steal it.  And the others
wouldnt understand.  She comes to a decision.  One
she is afraid to make.

Kasumi (Thinks):  Ill have to go to auntie Nodoka
about this.  It may break our friendship, and my
friendship with Ranma  But I need someone to look
after Mothers heirloom.

Kasumi lets out a heavy sigh.  She puts the katana
back into its sheath fully, and places it into its
groove in the chest, and closes the lid.  She places
it under her bed for the time being.  She takes an old
photo album off the bookshelf above her bed, and looks
through it.  She takes out one of the pictures.  The
picture has her mother Kimiko in a dark green kimono,
with her katana in a bundle like Nodoka usually does
with hers, Kasumi as a 5 year old girl playing with a
6 year old boy with messy brown hair, and an older man
to the side wearing a green hakama and scratching his
beard.  She turns it around to the back, and reads
whats listed.

Kasumi:  Family picnic.  June 30th, 1982.  From left
to right.  Kimiko Tendo, Kasumi Tendo, Kyo Kusanagi,
and Saishu Kusanagi

Kasumi than puts the photo in her dresser drawer.  She
will have to show it to auntie Nodoka when she sees
her next.  She places the photo album back on the
bookshelf and just lies back in bed.  She cant sleep.
 She has too much on her mind.  She almost wishes to
go back to her ignorant ways.  When she could just
treat everything with a smile, a cup of tea, and an
Oh my.  But she knows that the time for that is
over.  She has to take charge now, before things get
out of hand even more so.

(------)

Ryoga stands at the docks where the Black Noah is
docked.  At least he found his way back to Japan.  He
sees Vice and Mature sitting by some crates, talking
to each other.  He goes up to them.

Ryoga:  Excuse me.  Can you tell me where the Saotome
compound is?  I have to kill Ranma.

Vice (To Mature):    Whos this nut?

Mature:  I believe that boy is Ryoga Hibiki.  Captain
of the Kill Ranma Team.

Vice:  Well THAT was obvious.  But  Why do you need
to kill him now?  Wait until you fight in the
tournament.

Ryoga:  IM TIRED OF WAITING!  I WANT TO KILL RANMA
SAO

Vice:  OUTRAGE!!!

Vice shoots her arm out like a snake, and locks her
hand around Ryogas ankle.  She than tosses him with
great strength to a far away place.  Unfortunately,
that place happens to be the center of Nerima.

Ryoga (As he flies through the air):  THIS IS ALL YOUR
FAULT SAOTOME

Vice (To Mature):  Now  As I was saying

(------)

The sun is up and shining.  Leona is all dressed and
ties her shoes.  She is ready to start some more
training with Ranma.  She runs to Ranma and Ioris
room.  She opens the door, only to find  The two
still sleeping on their futons at opposite sides of
the room.  And snoring LOUDLY, might I add

Leona (Thinks):  CHRIST!  Its 10 in the morning!  Are
these two gonna sleep the day away?

As if to answer her, Iori mutters in his sleep.

Iori (Asleep):  Heh heh  Die Kyo  Heh heh  Meat 
Yummy meat

Leona stares at Ioris sleeping form.  She does NOT
want to know what THAT was about

Leona (Thinks):  Okay  Well  If theyre gonna sleep
the day away, I might as well TRY to get them up. 
Nothing less of a nuclear explosion gets these two up.
 Lets see if a nice COLD shower will wake these two
sleeping beauties

Leona than uses her powers to solidify the water
molecules in the air more.  Soon there are two balls
of water floating in the air.

Leona (Thinks):  I got GOOD!!!  Hmm  Should I, or
shouldnt I?  (Smiles evilly).  I will!

With that the two balls of cold water splash down on
the unsuspecting victims.  Ranko shoots up, jumping
up and down screaming about COLD, COLD, COLD!!! 
Iori on the other hand.

Iori (Still asleep):  SNOOOOOOOOOORE

Ranko:  Brrr  WHAT YOU DO THAT FOR!?

Leona:  Well  You two were still sleeping.  And you
promised me wed do some more training.  So, if its
not too much

Ranko: Okay.  Let me change back to a guy first.

Leona:  How will we get Iori up?

Ranko (Smiles):  Simple really.  (Goes up to Ioris
ear).  Hey Iori!  Kyo is here ready to fight you to
the death!

In a split second Iori is up, and in his fighting
stance.

Iori:  YES!!!  OH HOW IVE WAITED FOR THIS DAY!!! 
WHERE IS HE!?  WHERE IS THAT SCUM OF THE EARTH KYO!?!?

Ranko (Tries to sound mechanical):  Sorry.  The wuss
of a fighter you are trying to reach has been
disconnected.  Please hang up and try again

Iori (Aura flairs to life, clenches and unclenches his
hands):  RAAAANNNMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Ranko:    Lechan  Looks like well have to practice
a bit later  Okay?

Leona (Nods her head):  Okay.  Dont take too long.

With that Ranko shoots out of the room like a bat out
of hell.  Iori than picks up chase after the petite
redhead.  All the while Ranko laughs as Iori screams
out profanity after profanity behind her.

Iori:  WHEN I CATCH YOU, YOU ARE DEAD, YOU LITTLE
(&*#@*&%@*^*^$^@!(*^*((&@%&@#)^&^%@#^%%@!!!

Ranko:  Oh my!

Leona just smiles and shakes her head in resignation
as Iori chases his now female cousin around Nodokas
backyard.

Leona (Thinks):  Those two are never gonna change 
And I like it that way

(------)

It is now the afternoon.  Soun Tendo walks to a
graveyard alone.  He is carrying three white roses
with him.  He stops by a tombstone marked for his
wife.

Kimiko Tendo
Caring Wife and Mother.  Struck down by illness.
Born:  March 31st, 1954
Died:  October 20th, 1986
You rest with God now little one.

Soun stands in front of the tombstone.  He thinks
about all the joyous times he had with his wife.  When
he first met her.  When he met her family.  Their
wedding.  The births of his three wonderful children. 
And a few more personal memories.  The smile on his
face shows for a little while, but it than disappears
as soon as it reappears.  He knows he may not be able
to keep his pledge to Genma.

Soun (Thinks):  Genma old friend  I dont think we
can hide it from them any longer.  We have to get
Ranma and Akane married soon.  It may be the only way
to end the Blood Feud.  If we dont get them to marry,
we may get dragged into a Feud that has gone on for
longer than we could even imagine

`Soun continues to think as a man sneaks up behind
him.

Man:  So Soun.  Hows life been treating you?

Soun:  WWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH  Oh  Hi Saishu

Saishu:  Heh  Still Jump after all these years
brother-in-law?

Soun:  Yes Saishu.  Its so hard to calm down  After
your sister died, Ive been a nervous wreck.

Saishu:  Heck Soun!  Whats with you now?  WAIT! 
Dont tell me.  You are going through another one of
those  Hmm  Whatcha callit?

Soun:  Breakdowns

Saishu:  Yeah.  Thats it.  Howve the girls been
doing?

Soun (Smiles):  Kasumi is an absolute joy.  She has
every bit of kindness, and such that I loved about my
wife in her.  Nabiki  Well  She is very loyal to her
family.  Akane is a scrapper as always, but she seems
to be applying herself more lately.  She entered the
tournament with her cousins disciple Shingo.

Saishu:  Shingo isnt a bad boy either  Dense yes 
But definitely not bad.  I just wish Kyo would just
tell the boy that Magatama cannot be learned, but you
have to be born with it.  By the way, have any of your
girls

Soun (Interrupts):  No.  I can honestly say that none
of my children have the gift of the spirit flame as
your son Kyo does.

Saishu (Folds arms behind his head):  Too bad.  Oh
well  Guess its better this way.  Now that there are
more Yagamis on the loose

Soun (Shivers):  Please  Can we talk of something
else?

Saishu:    Soun, you REALLY have gotten jumpy in your
old age

Soun:  Im sorry  Its just that

Saishu (Interrupts):  That you need a REST! 
Seriously, I have no idea WHY you even entered the
tournament.

Soun:  I HAVE TO GET RANMA TO MARRY AKANE!!!

Saishu:    Oooooookay

Soun:    Sorry brother-in-law.  I have been edgy
lately.  How about this?  Would you like to come over
for dinner tomorrow night?  Get to see the family.  I
know you havent seen the girls in years, and theyd
be happy to see their uncle Saishu.

Saishu (Smiles):  Id be delighted!  How about I bring
Kyo too?  I know he hasnt seen his cousins in a long
time as well.

Soun (Smiles):  WONDERFUL!  It will be a regular
family-get-together.

Saishu:  Indeed!  By the way  Has Kasumi developed my
sisters skill in cooking?

Soun:  Yes indeed!  Shes every bit as wonderful in
the kitchen as her mother was.  Nabiki Im actually
not sure.  Akane  Dont ask

Saishu:  Hmm  Sounds serious

Soun:  WWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!  AKANE CANT EVEN BOIL
WATER CORRECTLY!!!

Saishu:  Well  As long as curry isnt the only thing
she can cook, shell be all right.

Soun looks up at Saishu with tearful eyes.

Saishu:    Oh crap.  It IS that bad, isnt it?

Soun:  WWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!  MY BABY GIRL CANT
COOK!!!  WWWWAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!

Saishu:  DAMN SOUN!  CAN THE WATER WORKS ALREADY!!!

Soun:  WWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!  MY BROTHER-IN-LAW
YELLED AT ME!!!  WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Its times like these that Saishu wishes he owned a 10
gauge shot gun

(------)

Ranma, Iori, and Leona do a kata in the backyard as
Nodoka watches their form.  Shes quite impressed with
the grace and synchronization that they all use when
they move through the kata.  She knows they are truly
gifted in martial arts.  Nodoka begins to wonder why
Iori and Ranmas fathers were so hard on the boys to
be the best they could be?  They would have reached
this skill level on their own, WITHOUT their fathers
help.  She sighs.  Theres no way to change past
mistakes.  But Leona  Nodoka is quite impressed by
the fact she became such a great fighter herself. 
Nodoka remembers that Leonas father Guidel, though
powerful, due to the fact he was one of the original
Four Heavenly Kings, his level in the Art just plain
sucked.  And they say the apple doesnt fall far from
the tree  Nodoka sees Ranma and his own father Genma
as proof to that idea being false.  Oh well.  Nodoka
goes inside to make tea for everyone, when the
doorbell rings.  Nodoka walks to the door and looks
through the peephole in it.  She is surprised to see
Kasumi there.  Kasumi seems to be carrying a bag with
her.  She opens the door to let her in.

Nodoka:  Kasumi.  What brings you here?

Kasumi:  Please auntie, we have to talk  Before
things get more out of hand than they already have

(------)

Ryoga walks through the streets of Nerima.  He STILL
cant find his way to the Saotome compound.  He
notices Ucchans Okonomiyaki over in the corner of
his vision.  He feels great that he found SOMETHING
familiar.  He runs in and starts making demands.

Ryoga:  WHERE IS EITHER THE TENDO DOJO, OR THE SAOTOME
COMPOUND!?!?

Ukyo (From behind the grill):  What do YOU want,
JACKASS?

Ryoga:  Well, I want to know where Ranma is!  I NEED
TO KILL HIM!!!

Most of the patrons to the restaurant just stare at
the raving lunatic.

Ukyo:    Just leave Pig-boy

Ryoga (Grabs Ukyo by her shirt):  TELL ME WHERE RANMA
IS!!!

Ukyo:  WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?!?

Ryoga (Starts to shake Ukyo):  YOU KNOW!  TELL ME!

At this point the patrons of the restaurant get up
from their seats to stop Ryoga.  They are the Art of
Fighting Team.  (Ryo Sakazaki, Yuri Sakazaki, Robert
Garcia).  And the Ikari team.  (Commander Heidern,
Ralf Jones, and Clark Steel).

Heidern:  What do you think you are doing to the lady?

Ryoga (Angry):  NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS!!!

Yuri:  YOU MALE CHAUVINISTIC PIG!!!

Ryoga:  DONT CALL ME A

Ryo:  RYUKO RANBU!!!

Ryo jumps at Ryoga with a series of fast passed
punches, kicks, and finishes with a quick ki blast. 
Ryoga goes flying over to Ralf and Clark, and the two
get him on the ground and start beating on him.  As
Ryoga tries to stand Yuri sets off her Haoh Sho Koh
Ken.  The huge ki blast from Yuri send Ryoga flying
out the door of Ucchans.  Ryoga lays in the street. 
He is in quite A LOT of well deserved pain.  While
lying in the street, he mutters to himself.

Ryoga:  Curse you Ranma  You demon  THIS IS ALL YOUR
FAULT!!!

Heidern steps out of Ucchans.

Heidern:  Hey PIG!

Ryoga (Looks up):  DONT CALL ME THAT!!!

Heidern:  Catch

Heidern takes a grenade out of his coat, pulls out the
pin and tosses it to Ryoga.

Ryoga:  WWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!

<BOOOOOOOM>!

The dust settles and Ryoga is gone.  Once again flying
through the air.  And lands right in Doctor Tofus
Office.

Tofu:  I swear  I should get a sunroof installed

Ryoga (Hallucinates):  All  Your  Fault  Ranma

Pig-boy passes out.

(------)

End Chapter 22

Next Time:  Kasumi talks with Nodoka and the Anything
Goes Team about her past, and whats going on.  She
wants to break of this engagement before things get
out of hand.  They decide to do it at dinner  When
Kyo and his father are supposed to come over  PLUS
Ryoga FINALLY makes his way to Ranma.

Send your questions and comments to either
RedPriest17@aol.com or Ryutsurugi@yahoo.com.

Note:  Flames will be read and than used to fuel the
Orochi fire.


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